by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

In case you were out late for a party Saturday night or went to bed early to get up for church, you missed some college basketball. So we are hear to catch you up:

1. College hoops Oscars: To celebrate the Academy Awards airing Sunday night, here are some variations on the honors. First, best actor in a leading role goes to Mr. Kendall Williams of New Mexico for his 46 points off 10 three-pointers in the Lobos' 91-82 victory over Colorado State to add clarity to the Mountain West Conference race. Next, best picture has to go to Tennessee for its 93-85 victory over Texas A&M in four overtimes. Obviously, the Vols (16-10, 8-6) don't paint the prettiest NCAA tournament picture, but when you're struggling for an at-large bid, any victory is a Picasso.

2. The Big East race: With only two weeks left in the conference season, Georgetown has taken control of the league race with a small-but-crucial one-game lead over 10-4 teams Syracuse, Louisville and Marquette. The Hoyas' 57-46 victory over the Orange at the Carrier Dome was a refreshing reminder that this Georgetown team is clicking at the right time. Otto Porter is, as coach John Thompson III put it Saturday night, unarguably the Big East's player of the year.

3. Kentucky's resurgence: The antidote for losing by 30 points against a team you had no business losing to in the first place? John Calipari's dodgeball and Wiffle Ball pregame routines did the trick. The Wildcats kept their NCAA tournament hopes alive with a resume-boosting 90-83 win in overtime over a Missouri team that just toppled SEC Goliath Florida. So much for a one bid league, eh? Kentucky's resume (19-8, 10-4) as it stands is enough to get into the Dance, but winning against a top-50 team without Nerlens Noel was the biggest gain from Saturday. Perhaps croquet is next on Calipari's games agenda.

4. Bubble winners:

Villanova (18-10, 9-6): The Wildcats' 60-56 victory over No. 20 Marquette was another statement win that will make it extremely difficult for the NCAA committee to deny Villanova (18-10, 9-6) an at-large bid. This team's problem was never signature wins, having beaten Louisville and Syracuse in the same week earlier this season. But three wins against top-tier Big East opponents is enough to erase any dreadful losses.

Saint Mary's (24-5, 12-2): Beating a reeling Creighton team in a BracketBusters matchup might not be the signature win a team like the Gaels has been craving, but it's beneficial for other reasons. Mainly, it was Saint Mary's first top-50 win of the season, a sure jolt to a pedestrian RPI. A win over BYU just two days earlier was also vital. If this team finishes strong, it won't have to beat Gonzaga to wear dancing shoes despite the West Coast's weak rating.

5. Bubble losers:

Iowa (17-10, 6-8): The Big Ten is just mean and unpredictable, evidenced by the Hawkeyes' resume-shattering 64-60 loss to Nebraska on Saturday. If there were ever such a thing as a bad loss in the Big Ten, that's what Iowa's latest hiccup was. Unlike Villanova's signature victories, Iowa's wins over Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa State aren't big enough to erase the bad losses.

Southern Mississippi (21-7, 10-3): In a year when Conference USA has been historically bad, Memphis ended the Golden Eagles' at-large hopes with a 89-73 rout to secure the league title and make it evident that the only way Southern Miss will make the Dance will be by an upset in the conference tournament.